The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31

 brances of my school days is of the picnic in the Hemlock ravine. An occurrence connected with it fixed it indelibly in my memory.
 It was Mrs. Estey who planned this picnic. She was gay young widow, who spent her summer in our little mountain village, and who had not much to do except to invent schemes of amusement and to carry out her pleasant, social plans, The picnic was to close and surpass all the public pleasures of the season; for October had come, and the wind was growing chilly, and the trees were turning red and brown.
 There were not more than dozen young people in the village: and Mrs. Estey had taken me and my bosom friend, Netty Thurston, into society" as she called it, though we were still at school.
 On the evening before the picnic I went over to Netty's to tea, as usual, to discuss the affair. I found the family at the tea- table.
 What pleasant room it was! The low French windows opened on porch covered with jasmine, and, be- yond, the lawn, with it's clump of trees and roses, sloped down to the woods. Inside wood fire burned on the hearth, for the evening was cool, and an argand lamp lighted the pretty table, with its silver and deli cate china. To this day, when think of the cosy, happy home, I see that breakfast room of the old Thurston home.
 That evening Judge Thurston and his wife, their daughters Ellinor and Netty, and two CT three ot Netty's friends, were at the table. The judge was very deaf, and Mrs. Thurston was always wrapped in her thoughts. Miss Ellinor was quiet, as usual so we girls had all the conversation to ourselves, and that of course, seemed to us the suitable order of things.
 Mrs. Thurston, to our surprise, had heard Netty's orders and said quietly, "You are quite old enough, Henrietta, to attend to your own luncheon and clothes. I wish you, Ellinor, to rest this evening if you are going to Hem- lock ravine tomorrow"
 "Going! To Hemlock ravine?" gasped Netty. "Are you going to the picnic?"
 The girls said nothing, but we listened, aghast, for the answer.
 "I was invited, Netty," said Ellinor, gently. "I have not gone anywhere in a year or two, as you know; but thought I should like to go to the ravine once more, for certain reas- ons."
 Her voice, always low and soft, trembled, as if the tears were not far off. If I had not been so angry, 1 should have been touched.
 Netty made no reply, but she shrugged her shoulders contemptu- ously, and began to eat her supper with ominous haste. saw she was in passion. Here certainly was an end of any filtration with Sam Far leyl
 "I shall not interfere with you young people," said Ellinor, smiling patiently. "Dr. Scudder will row me places that should like to see again. I will be one of the party that will wander off by themselves,'" trying to jest.
 ''Oh, you can go if you like, and do what you like when you are there?" said Netty, with toss of her head.
 "Henriettaw w said her mother, in low voice.
 Netty rose from the table, and rushed up to her own room. We soon followed her.
 "The old thingw she broke out. "What has she to do in society? When women get to that age, they ought to know their room is better than their company"
 "sThey lag superfuous on the stage," said Lou Heriot, who always had quotation ready to fling at you. ''No Sam Farley tomorrow, Netty! No real fun for any of us. We'll have to remember that we are little girls,' as my mother says, and behave like the lambs from the primary school"
 "Oh, for goodness sake, hush, Lou Heriot! There never was girl that talked as much and said as little. want to think what is to be done"
 "Perhaps," ventured, "Miss Ell inor may not be able to go. She has not looked we'll for long time"
 "She's always moping," said Netty.
 Now, Netty usually appeared very fond of her sister, who had made pet and baby of her all of her life. This was the first time that she had interfered with her pleasure, and Netty, nursed in all selishness, found her affection vanish. We went home, leaving her sulky and sullen.
 The next morning, however, when the little party gathered on the pier xo efarf Naffv,a uiuk chnpka and